# Who's the stereotypical "huge guy" in popular culture today? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 16, 2024, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144 "2024-01-16T04:26:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144/41 "2024-01-17T01:49:00Z")
A contender who never quite caught on is [Nathan Jones](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Jones_(wrestler)), who was basically “the big guy” in both a Jackie Chan movie and a Jet Li movie. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144/42 "2024-01-17T03:26:23Z")
And [Gheorghe Mureșan](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gheorghe_Mure%C8%99an) might well have become the next Big Guy if his film career had lasted past _My Giant_. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144/43 "2024-01-17T03:49:00Z")
Trump is ‘uge. Not his hands. The Rock. Momoa. World’s Strongest Men? ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Burden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/958977/32.png) [@Jack\_Burden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Burden)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144/44 "2024-01-17T05:37:48Z")
George Miller seems quite fond of the “huge guy” in his Mad Max films. I was surprised to learn that the actor playing Lord Humungous in Road Warrior is only 6’3”, but then Blaster from ThunderDome is 6’9” and Rictus from Fury Road is a proper 6’11”. Helps that all three are muscled up body-builder types, and imposing helmets give the illusion of greater size. ---
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144/45 "2024-01-17T09:39:39Z")
Andre didn’t need a helmet - his head alone was about three times bigger in volume than Arnold’s. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144/46 "2024-01-17T11:10:12Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > If you’re talking about Paul Wight, aka The Big Show, just an aside: > > His 2020 Netflix sitcom _The Big Show Show_ was fun, heartwarming couch candy during the early part of the COVID pandemic. For viewers that can no longer abide 1980s-90s style sitcoms, it won’t have appeal. But for others, it’s worth a click. > > I would love to see Wight get a second turn in something with a profile and some marketing behind it. I was. I’d tune in to check that out. He’s a surprisingly clever, funny fellow, and the fact that it’s surprising is my shortcoming, not his. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144/47 "2024-01-17T11:40:15Z")
I can’t find it online, but there’s a promo USA network did 10 or so years ago that had “Big Show” Paul Wight and Matt Bomer drinking high-end scotch and being snobby until Wight leans over too much and almost crushes the table. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144/48 "2024-01-17T12:00:44Z")
Just wanted to add that Paul Wight went by The Giant for several years, including at the peak of the “Monday Night Wars/Attitude Era” when WCW was very popular. Since I was mostly an '80s fan and barely paid attention past the '90s I pretty much missed his “Big Show” run in the “WWE.” IIRC storyline was that he was “Andre’s son.” ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144/49 "2024-01-17T19:59:35Z")
> [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](#): > > IIRC storyline was that he was “Andre’s son.” Yeah, that was Hulk Hogan’s idea. He wanted to relive the glory days of his feud with Andre. They let the angle quietly die. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2024, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144/50 "2024-01-18T01:29:11Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > Paul Wight, aka The Big Show I’ve posted this before, but Wight played basketball for a season (or two) at Wichita State. I attended a couple of games in which he played. He was a decent player, and the crowd absolutely loved him. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2024, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144/51 "2024-01-18T15:17:09Z")
Andre was a legitimate 6’11’. However, in his heyday in the 1970s, his afro and wrestling boots possibly got him closer to the claimed 7’4". But as to the OP, the closest I can come up with is Shaq, so far as best known ‘giant.’ I think every other commercial has Shaq pitching something. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2024, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144/52 "2024-01-18T15:31:57Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > But as to the OP, the closest I can come up with is Shaq, so far as best known ‘giant.’ I think every other commercial has Shaq pitching something. Agreed. It’s not just a matter of size, name and face recognition are make the difference. The Rock is a big guy, maybe 6’4", and built like a masonry lavatory. As an former football player, professional wrestler, and action star he is an actual big man, unlike many smaller men whose size is only movie magic. But Shaq is actually over 7 feet tall, over 300 lbs. and an athlete, extremely well known and recognizable. He has the voice and mien of a giant. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2024, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144/53 "2024-01-18T15:34:27Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > But Shaq is actually over 7 feet tall, over 300 lbs. and an athlete, extremely well known and recognizable. Nice guy, too. > **[Shaq Surprises Cop, Kids After Hoops Video Goes Viral](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/shaq-surprises-florida-cop-pickup-game-kids-after-viral-hoops-n503136)** > > NBA all-star Shaquille O'Neal joined a Florida cop for a pickup game against a group of kids on Saturday. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2024, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144/54 "2024-01-18T16:06:14Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > But Shaq is actually over 7 feet tall, over 300 lbs. and an athlete A lot of these guys had pituitary issues or genetic disorders. Shaq is just _big_. But he’s not gangly or awkward. In fact, he’s incredibly nimble for his size. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/SHqxtailVuE/maxresdefault.jpg "Shaq breakdancing?!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHqxtailVuE) ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2024, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144/55 "2024-01-18T17:33:34Z")
He was an absolute terror in Orlando during his younger years. He could run the floor like no other center. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2024, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144/56 "2024-01-18T17:53:58Z")
Shaq makes big guys like Dwayne Johnson look little. Dunno if you can have a better description for “huge guy” than that. > [@BlankSlate](#): > > He was an absolute terror in Orlando during his younger years. He could run the floor like no other center. Shaq’s freakish ability was being big enough to bang bodies with the other centers in the league, strong enough to just run them over anyway, and so damn light on his feet, especially when he was younger. He was getting to the basket, it was just a matter of going around you or going through you - and he preferred to go through you. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2024, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144/57 "2024-01-18T17:59:53Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > Shaq is just _big_. But he’s not gangly or awkward. But that’s part of the problem. He’s big, yes, but generally he’s also in proportion to himself, if that makes sense. Looking at him in isolation, he’s doesn’t give off the “Man, he’s HUGE!” vibe. It’s only when you see him next to other people that you start to get how big he is. With Andre the Giant, you _knew_ he was huge, even just seeing him standing in an open field all alone, because his proportions were just all so completely different from regular everyday guys. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2024, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144/58 "2024-01-18T18:06:33Z")
> [@Chisquirrel](#): > > Shaq’s freakish ability was being big enough to bang bodies with the other centers in the league, strong enough to just run them over anyway, and so damn light on his feet, especially when he was younger. He was getting to the basket, it was just a matter of going around you or going through you - and he preferred to go through you. The square-cube law just decided to skip Shaq. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2024, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144/59 "2024-01-18T18:17:58Z")
No rules or laws apply to Shaq. As a basketball player, he exists outside the bounds of physics. Hell, if there was a video posted of him dunking from half-court a la _Space Jam_ Michael Jordan, I don’t know that I’d think it might be faked. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2024, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144/60 "2024-01-18T18:25:18Z")
> [@Chisquirrel](#): > > strong enough His strength is pretty legendary, especially since he hated to work out. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/A_uP5_aOo_Q/maxresdefault.jpg "Shaq breaks the backboard") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_uP5_aOo_Q) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-stereotypical-huge-guy-in-popular-culture-today/996144.md?page=2)